Youth theatre group benefits from £1,000 grant

Stokesley-based Crash Bang Wallop Youth Theatre has received £1,000 from SPAR through the retailer’s community cashback scheme.

The voluntary managed youth theatre has been established since 2005 and provides opportunities for children to be involved in both large and small theatrical productions.

Hard work has gone into developing the rehearsal space and small theatre in recent years and the young cast, ranging from ages eight to 18, perform at Northallerton Forum twice a year.

James Hall & Co. Ltd, SPAR’s primary retailer, wholesaler and distributor for the North of England, received 3,000 applications from charities and organisations.

Members of the Crash Bang Wallop attended SPAR Hutton Rudby to receive the cheque from store team members Wendy Ellwood and Joanne Davey.

Dan Brookes, the theatre’s artistic director, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding from SPAR. Ticket sales are our main source of income, but the costs to deliver the shows always outweighs this revenue.

“Our group is 20 years old in 2025 and this funding will go towards the production of our next show, which is Shrek, in what is a special year for us.

“We are very fortunate to have a team of experienced leaders and past cast members who give up a considerable amount of their time voluntarily to support the production of our shows.

“The benefit this has on young people is huge. They develop transferable skills, confidence, positive self-esteem, a team work ethic, and a valuable experience of the theatre that they will remember for years to come.

“It’s a mutually beneficial service for the children, their parents and families, and the appreciative audiences.”

Philippa Harrington, marketing manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “We had an enormous number of entries for SPAR’s Community Cashback this year and it meant selecting winners of the funding was an incredibly difficult decision-making process.

“With Crash Bang Wallop Youth Theatre we noted its inclusive nature, and several entries were in support of the organisation highlighting the positive impact that the group has had on children who have the opportunity to perform through it.

“Our business is a family-owned business, and you could feel through the entry submissions that the youth theatre has a similar feel of being like one big family.”